Year 8 & 9 Options

Options overview

Through Years 7 and 8 students get the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects across all areas of the curriculum. We believe that it is important to allow students to start determining the subjects that they wish to study to GCSE examination standard at the end of Year 8. For this reason, the College operates an option process that operates in both Year 8 and Year 9.

The Core Curriculum

The College has considered the subjects all students need to study for their GCSEs. Although you cannot ‘choose’ these subjects, members of these faculties will be available at Options Evening to discuss any questions you have. The core subjects are:

English, Mathematics and Science

Physical Education

Personal, Social and Health Education

Year 8 options

Students will choose towards the end of Year 8 one subject that they wish to study as an ‘early entry’ GCSE. The students will study this subject intensively through Year 9 and 10 sitting a final exam in the summer of Year 10.

Alongside the early entry GCSE course, students will also choose to specialise in three further ‘regular’ option subjects in Year 9. To maintain a broad and balanced curriculum for our students at this stage we insist that each student in Year 9 studies at least one ‘Ebacc’ subject (History, Geography or Computer Science).

At this stage students also have the choice to study either a Modern Foreign Language or Religious Studies to GCSE which they will take a GCSE in at the end of Year 11.

Year 9 options

Students will choose towards the end of Year 9 two subjects from their regular options that they will continue to study in Years 10 and 11, taking a final exam in the summer of Year 11.

Throughout the options process, students are encouraged to make informed decisions about the choices they are making. To support this, the College has an extensive careers education programme as well as systems that ensure that each student is fully counselled on the subjects they are taking (this includes a 1 to 1 personal interview with a senior member of staff in the College).